Is It “Prison-based Gerrymandering?” Stallworth Urges New Prison Count

Does Bridgeport lose legislative juice when its inmate-based population is counted in other communities?

State Rep. Charles Stallworth, who won the February special election to replace Chris Caruso in the state legislature, says state prisoners should be counted based on their last community of residence, not the place of their incarceration. Stallworth maintained in testimony before a legislative committee that Connecticut’s largest cities lose legislative clout because their populations are reduced as a result of inmate residency counted elsewhere. Rural towns, he argued, are accorded more proportional influence because they can count thousands of inmates among their population. Stallworth made his case as state lawmakers prepare to redraw legislative districts to address the 2010 U.S. Census.